Wrangell, Alaska, issues invitation to bid for GE Evolve LED streetlights after evaluating lights from different vendors

The city and borough of Wrangell, Alaska, recently completed a test installation of LED streetlights in anticipation of a city-wide streetlight replacement project. City crews installed LED streetlight fixtures manufactured by BetaLED, GE, Leotek and Lighting Science Group and evaluated fixture function, performance and appearance. As a result of the pilot program, the electrical department chose the GE Evolve LED streetlight fixture as having the best design and performance that best matched to the municipality’s needs. The proposed 312 streetlight installation is funded by combined grants of $146,000 from the US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program.

“LED streetlights are a new project for the city. We have calculated that we will reduce our energy costs by about 50 percent,” said Valerie Biastoch, electrical secretary for the city and burrough of Wrangell. The new fixtures will replace nearly all of the city’s existing high pressure sodium (HPS) and mercury vapor streetlights which range from 150 watts to 400 watts. The city currently owns and maintains 150w, 250w, and 400w HPS fixtures and 175w and 400w mercury vapor streetlights. City officials identified two GE Evolve luminaires as replacements for the five existing fixtures. “Having only two types of fixtures on our streets will help us increase our efficiency in handling inventory and reduce the costs associated with replacing obsolete streetlights,” said Biastoch. Long term plans include replacing the city’s remaining streetlights with LED fixtures.

Wrangell’s Invitation to Bid provides the technical specifications and product numbers for the GE Evolve luminaires which are specified. Complete bids must be submitted to the City and Burrough of Wrangell by 2:00 p.m. Prevailing Time on October 3, 2011. Complete bid documents are available here.